Lazio trounce Catania and 42-year wait is over
- Dag Jenkins
- Apr 17, 2024
- 5 min read
Game 33, Serie A
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Stadio Angelo Massimino, Catania
Catania-Lazio 1-4
A great second half gives Lazio big 4-1 win in Sicily
So far, after 32 games Lazio were in 4th position on 57 points (+1 on Udinese, + 4 on Roma and + 6 on Juventus), so on course for a Champions League preliminary round. Lazio had started very well and up to the 12th fixture were top of the table. They then became more inconsistent despite some good wins (including Inter 3-1). Lazio had won 17, drawn 6 (including Catania 1-1) and lost 9 (including both derbies 0-2 but with 3 controversial penalties). Their most recent result was a 2-0 home win over Parma.
A tricky game for Lazio today as Catania still needed points to be arithmetically safe. The old Cibali was always a difficult place to go to and the Etnei had won their last four league games here.
The match
A warm, sunny day at the foot of Mount Etna saw about 15,000 spectators present.
A minute's silence was observed before the game in memory of Brazilian former Catania player Chinesinho (1963-65) who had passed away the previous day.
Lazio could not choose from midfielders Francelino Matuzalém and Cristian Brocchi plus forward Tommaso Rocchi. Catania were missing defender Alessandro Potenza and midfielder Mariano Izco.
Catania played in their classic light blue and red while Lazio played in their uncharacteristic and not overly popular military green away jerseys.
Lazio started better than their Sicilian hosts. Cristian Ledesma and Mark Bresciano put up a wall in midfield and the three attacking midfielders; Giuseppe Sculli, Stefano Mauri and Hernanes were in constant movement causing problems to Catania's back line.
In the 17th minute however, Sculli was forced off injured and was replaced by Mauro Zárate.
Lazio remained on top even if the Etnei defended well and the chances were few and far between. In the 15th minute Sergio Floccari forced Mariano Andujar to fly to his left and palm away a powerful strike. In the 19th minute Mauri crossed into the middle but Andujar did well again to dive low at Floccari's feet and touch the ball which then hit the side netting. Zárate was lively and put several interesting passes into the area but were never finalised.
The hosts responded in the 25th when, on a Francesco Lodi corner, Matías Silvestre headed towards goal but Bresciano chested it away from near the post.
Hernanes then tried on a free kick but Andujar was well positioned and fisted it away.
In the 40th minute Lazio scored. Stephan Lichtsteiner went down the right and crossed, Mauri prolonged the ball with a header towards the back post where Hernanes was lurking for the tap-in. Catania 0 Lazio 1.
A few minutes later Catania had one of their only goal scoring opportunities but Maxi Lopez' cross goal effort went wide. Half time Catania 0 Lazio 1. A fair score line so far.
The second half opened with a bang and after only about 25 seconds the Rossoblu equalised. An excellent Adrián Ricchiuti through ball found Gonzalo Bergessio who went for a right footed shot and Fernando Muslera parried but on the rebound the defence did not react and Ezequiel Schelotto was quicker and slotted in. Catania 1 Lazio 1 and a shocking re-start for the Biancocelesti.
In the 52nd came the first substitution as Pablo Ledesma came on for Lodi.
The Etnei seemed to have woken up and Schelotto again tried a curler but it was weak and off target. In the 55th minute Lazio had a double chance with Lichtsteiner but first Andujar saved low and then on the rebound Christian Terlizzi walled the Swiss' second attempt.
A minute later Lazio went in front again. Zarate went on a dazzling run, skipped past two defenders and teed up Mauri who had the simplest of tasks to put the ball in the back of the net. Catania 1 Lazio 2. There were protests from the locals for a possible offside but pre-VAR there was no going back.
Catania were only dangerous on set pieces as in the 65th minute but Muslera saved well from a Bergessio freekick.
Lazio then controlled well even if the hosts put them under constant pressure. In the 70th minute Simeone decided to play the Alejandro "Papu" Gomez card as the Argentine forward replaced midfielder Ricchiuti. Lazio also put on fresh legs in the 75th minute when Álvaro Gonzalez was brought on for Bresciano.
In the 78th minute Lazio practically closed out the game. Hernanes started the move brilliantly and teed up an inspired Zarate again who squared to Floccari and the Calabrese scored Lazio’s third of the afternoon. Catania 1 Lazio 3.
Catania threw on another forward, Japanese Takayuki Morimoto for midfielder Schelotto.
Lazio were cruising but changed defenders anyway in the 86th minute, bringing on Guglielmo Stendardo for Giuseppe Biava.
In the 89th minute the man of the match put his final seal on the game. Zarate scored with a superb precise, curling freekick from 20 metres in the left-hand corner to make it Catania 1 Lazio 4.
The last bit of excitement was a Morimoto goal but it was disallowed for handball. Final score 1-4.
A great win for Lazio who had not won in Catania for 42 years. The Biancocelesti were still 4th, on 60 points and still with a one-point advantage on Udinese (who had won 2-1 in Naples) but now 7 on Roma (who had lost 2-3 at home to Palermo) and 8 on Juventus (0-0 in Florence).
Catania meanwhile despite the heavy defeat still had a 4-point advantage on the B zone (now Sampdoria) with 5 games to go. The table read Bari 21, Brescia 30, Sampdoria 32, Cesena 34, Lecce, 35, Parma 35, Catania 36, for three relegation slots.
Who played for Catania
Andujar, Alvarez, Silvestre, Terlizzi, Capuano, Carboni, Lodi (52' P. Ledesma), Schelotto (79' Morimoto), Ricchiuti (70' Gomez), Bergessio, Maxi López
Substitutes: Campagnolo, Marchese, Spolli, Biagianti
Manager: Simeone
Who played for Lazio
Muslera, Lichtsteiner, Biava (86' Stendardo), Dias, Radu, Bresciano (75' Gonzalez), C. Ledesma, Sculli (14' Zárate), Hernanes, Mauri, Floccari
Manager: Reja
Referee: Rizzoli
Goals: 40' Hernanes, 46' Schelotto, 56' Mauri, 78' Floccari, 89' Zárate
Sources